“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15 New King James Version)
It is early Sunday morning, so I will be as brief as possible! I know you got “somewhere” to be. But I just wanted you to join me in thanking God for His specifically sent messengers that He uses to bring specific messages for a specific purpose at a specific time. Yes, we need to thank God for them! Amen!
You see, people did not always step in the pulpit earnestly prepared, equipped, and educated in theology and their purpose was not always a result of a divine calling. An example that stands out for me, supporting the last sentence that I just wrote, are a few words by Booker T. Washington, who wrote about the ministry profession during the Reconstruction Period between 1867 and1878, following the Civil War in the United States.
This is a quote from “Up from Slavery” that was initially published in 1901 by Doubleday Publishing. Here is what the esteemed Mr. Washington wrote. “The ministry was the profession that suffered most – and still suffers though there has been great improvement – on account of not only ignorant but in many cases immoral men who claimed they were “called to preach.” In the earlier days of freedom almost every coloured man who learned to read would receive a “call to preach” within a few days after learning to read.”
Thank God again, for that’s not the case today! Today, you have men and women called of God, individuals who have been formally trained, preachers mentored by faithful and erudite pastors. They hold high-level degrees, even earning Masters degrees and Doctoral Degrees from universities, or they have been bestowed with Doctor of Divinity degrees in recognition of their recognized expertise in handling the scriptures, in acknowledgement of their revered wisdom and due to their accumulation of outstanding years of making a great and widespread impact on the kingdom of God. Yes, I hear you already! Yes, there are still some who “went” and some who were not divinely “sent,” but thank God that self-esteem issues, sociological conditions, economic motivations, and the impetus to gain respect in the community are not behind ministers answering “the call” today; the call to preach the word in season and out of season; when they feel like it and when they don’t feel like it. Yes, thank God for the true men and women, called by God.
I’m sure that is the case at your church! I’m sure God has blessed you with one who has truly been blessed with His calling! Look! You don’t need to all of a sudden form a committee to have an appreciation service. Just start by showing up this morning and see what the Lord has put on your preacher’s heart to help you along your sanctification journey and to hear him preach Christ crucified and resurrected for the purpose of saving souls who need to come out of darkness into the marvelous light, and to perpetuate the continuing growth of the kingdom of God on this earth until Jesus returns.
Well, as you enter His gates with thanksgiving this Sunday morning, make sure you thank God for the preachers of our time, the faithful under-shepherds that are truly called! Go get a word, my friend! I will do the same, being one who has ears to hear! Be blessed!
“So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 NKJV)